Questions have been raised about the decision to give Stoke Lodge fields protected status – effectively kicking a school out.

Stoke Lodge was given Town and Village Green (TVG) status on Monday at Bristol City Council's Public Rights of Way and Green Committee.

The approved application, first applied for in March 2011, means no development can take place on the field.

Cotham School, which had used the green space as its playing fields for years, opposed to the application because they need to fence it off to ensure the safety of its pupils.

The school leased the fields from Bristol City Council – the landowners – which also opposed the application.

Local football club, Rockleaze, and Bristol University were also against the application, which has the support of the residents.

Cotham School can no longer use Stoke Lodge

It came to a head this summer, with a nine-day independent inquiry by Philip Petchey recommending that the TVG application is turned down.

Councillors were split on the decision at the committee meeting on Monday, with chair and ward councillor Peter Abraham using his casting vote to back the TVG bid and win the day for the campaigners.

But Cotham School has now revealed it had previously raised concerns about Mr Abraham's presence at the meeting, and say there is a conflict of interest.

Writing to the council, the school said Mr Abraham was a supporter of the campaign group and had previously made public assertions about his support for the TVG application.

He was also a member of the local neighbourhood partnership, where he works closely with the TVG applicant, David Mayer, who is the chair of the partnership.

But Bristol City Council said it had discussed the alleged conflict of interest with the councillor and he had denied being a supporter of the campaign.

He also denied ever making public assertions about this support for the application, and that he would approach the decision with an "open mind".

TVG applicants believe the field must be open to all

A spokesman for the school said: "The school has a statutory duty to provide a broad and balanced curriculum for our students.

"Part of this is a PE curriculum and for this we need playing fields that are fit for purpose, safe and secure.

"We have a duty to safeguard our staff and students and to that end our playing fields (Stoke Lodge) need to be fenced to secure the site from potential intrusion."

He said despite various meetings, campaigners "seemed unable to grasp" the school has a duty to provide a safe environment for the students.

He called the decision to award the fields TVG status "unexpected and frankly shocking".

"It is our view that this close relationship and the fact that Councillor Abraham is the ward member for Stoke Bishop meant that in the interests of fairness and to avoid any ambiguity, Councillor Abraham should have stepped down from chairing and attending the PROWG Committee for the meeting on Stoke Lodge playing fields," he added.

"The school had faith that having raised our concerns about a clear and obvious conflict, that Councillor Abraham, as chair of the PROWG Committee, would behave fairly and honestly.

"Sadly he did not, with disastrous implications for our students and school."

A Bristol City Council spokesman said: "Whether or not a councillor has a conflict of interest is for them to decide before taking part in a debate or a vote.

"If a complaint is received then the council would investigate under the Councillor Code of Conduct."